Drying apparatus and drying attachment for clothes washing machine and the like



Y E L D N A H E 2,827,783 AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHINGMACHINE AND HE LIKE 'Filed Jan. 6; 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet. l

EHANDLEY FMHULII March 25, 1958 H. E. HANDLEY 2,827,783 DRYING APPARATUSAND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AND THE LIKE FiledJan. 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 STAT l c. V LVE.

FMRUIUEHANDLEY FIEFZI- I mfpm v A'F-r RNEYS March 25, 1958 H. E. HANDLEY2,327,783

DRYING APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE ANDTHE LIKE Filed Jan. 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

M T R Bv-METALLN:

7O RMQ CoupLg m- WATER 9RAlT2/6PlNNEQ L:l pg 1 I 5 l'lmerz film- FIE ELHA R'II/LJII ENAMEL/5v ATTORNEY March 25, 1958 H E. HANDL Y 2,827,783

E DRYING APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE ANDTHE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 6, 1949 HAF'ULDEHANDLEY ATTQRNEYSMarchZS, 1958 DRYING APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR' cLoTHEsWASHING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 6, 1949 H. E. HANDLEY 5Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Pater nice 2,827,783 Patented Mar. 25, 1958 DRiZlNG APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACH- REN'I' FGR CLOTHES WASHINGMACE- WE AND TEE LIKE Harold E. Handley, Jackson, Mich. ApplicationJanuary 6, 1949, Serial No. 69,446

Claims. (Cl. 6S12) The present invention relates to improvements indrying apparatus, being particularly concerned with apparatus especiallyadapted to the drying of clothes and similar material while beingtumbled or otherwise agitated in domestic clothes washing machines. Itis to be understood, however, that the principles of combination,construction and arrangement herein disclosed and defined are notlimited in their application to clothes drying and similar material asthe objects and advantages of the invention are considered to have amuch broader application and scope.

in recent years clothes driers for domestic use have made theirappearance upon the market as a companion unit to automatic andsemi-automatic clothes washing machines. Upon completion of the washingoperation and the water extraction step, the damp clothes are placed thedrier where they are agitated in the presence of circulated heated air.While these driers perform satisfactorily, they are relativelyexpensive, and generally require even more floor space than the washingmachine.

it has been proposed, heretofore, as disclosed in United States PatentNo. 2,328,256 to associate a hot air blower with a domestic washer to atleast partially dry the clothes within the cylinder of the washingmachine upon the completion of the washing operation. The presentdisclosure, however, is considered an improvement over the apparatusdisclosed in the aforesaid patent.

Thus one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a clothesdrier or the like which in connection with its function as a heater andcirculator of air is designed to utilize the clothes receptacle andagitating mechanism of the domestic washing machine. This object may becarried out by combining the drier and clothes washer into a singleunit, or it may be economically accompiished through an attachment unit.When the principles of the present invention are embodied in anattachment or accessory unit for the washing machine, it becomespossible for present and future owners of washing machines to convertthe same into clothes driers at a minimum expense.

Another object is to provide an improved drier attachment for domesticwashing machines and other similar apparatus in which materials areagitated, spun, tumbled and the like for washing, cleansing and liquidextraction purposes, and which require drying as a subsequent step.

Another object is to provide an improved drier attach ment for machinesof the type disclosed in the preceding paragraph in which the existingopenings into the interior of the machine are utilized in the couplingof the attachment to the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dry ing attachment formaterial agitating machines of the type described in which air heatingand circulating means are associated into an interrupted duct system inwhich the machine, to which the drier is to be attached, is coupled tocomplete the duct system; i

A further object is to provide, as a new article of manufacture, a drierunit for domestic clothes washers comprising air inlet and air exhaustducts which may be selctively coupled to one or more openings in thewasher for circulating air through the clothes to dry the same followingthe washing cycle and/ or the preliminary liquid extraction step.

A still further object is to provide a clothes drier in which improvedsafety controls are embodied to safeguard its operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clothes drier inwhich overheating is avoided under all conditions of faulty operation orinstallation.

More specifically, another and further object of the invention is toprovide an improved automatic clothes drier in which the rotatingcylinder of a conventional automatic or semi-automatic washing machineis used as a drying chamber, whereby the clothes may be washed by thesame machine without removal until the drying operation is completed,with adequate provision being made for lint control.

Another and specific object is to provide an improved safety control fordriers and the like in which the input of heated air is under thecontrol of predetermined subatmospheric conditions within the aircirculating system.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved portable drying attachment for domestic washing machines andthe like in the form of a separable, and selectively attachable unit.

A still further object is to provide a unit of the type described in thepreceding paragraph which is adapted to utilize gas, electric, radiantheat, hot air and combinaproved attachment for the drying of clothes indomestic washing machines of the cylinder type which is accomplishedwithout alteration of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the combination,construction and arrangement of parts will more fully appear from aconsideration of the detailed description to follow and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a perspective view of an automatic domestic washing machine ofthe cylinder type with one form of improved drier attachment shownassociated therewith but with the ducts detached and in storage,

Fig. ii is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the auxiliary door in placeand the ducts of the drier attachment coupled to the clothes door anddetergent opening,

Fig. 111 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the drier attachmentshown in Figs. I and II particularly illustrating the combustion chamberand the lint collector,

Fig. IV is a fragmentary plan view partly, shown in broken section, or"the drying and washing apparatus shown in Fig. I,

Fig. V is a fragmentary vertical section of Fig. 11

taken through the washer and drier attachment on the center line of thedetergent opening of the washer,

Fig. V1 is a perspective view of the auxiliary door washer, and

. 3 V adaptation of electric heat in lieu of gas or other combustiblefuel, e

, Fig. IX is a diagrammatic illustration similar to Fig.

mechanism-of the all-electric unitjillu'strated in'Fig. VIII, Fig. X isa view similar to Fig.*I of the modified form of the invention in whichthe drier structure has been embodied into 'the cabinet structure of thewashing ac in e Fig. X1 is a @diagrammatic illustration of a' portabledrier attachment for domestic washing machines and the like selectivelycoupled to a horizontal cylinder type of machine, l a V 'Fig. XII is adiagrammatic illustration'similar to Fig. XI showing aportable dryingattachment associated and coupled with the door of an inclined cylindertype. of

Fig-XIII is a detailed view of a vacuumcontrol. Referringto the form ofFigs. I'to VII of the drawings whereinthe principles of the presentinvention are illus- VII and illustrates the heating, air circulatingand control trated in numerous embodiments, in Fig. I the dryerattachment 10 is shown disposed adjacent to onev side of the'cabinet '12of an automatic domestic washing machine ofJthe'horizontal'cylinder typecomprising a control panel 14; a door 16 through which the clothes areinserted'and; a detergent supply opening 18.

The-dryer attachment 1 0 comprises a hinged top .29, which inclosedposition, as shown inFig. I, covers the lint filter generallydesignated by'reference character 22 and the airoutlet duct connection24. At the front of the attachment 10 is a vertically hinged door 26which in its closed position covers the control'mechanism 27 and the airinlet duct connection 28. When the drying attach- V ment10is uncoupledfrom the washing machine cabinet 12, theair inlet duct 30 is'stored inthe compartment 32 and the air outlet-duct 34 and the auxiliary door 36are stored below inchamber 38. 7 r p.

' In Fig; II the lid 20 and the door 26 are shown hinged I out of theposition shownin Fig. I with the inlet duct 30.

extendingbetweenthe duct connection 28 and the duct connection 39providedin the auxiliary door or closure. 36. "Thedu'ct 34 is positionedat one end within the duct 7 connection. 24 and at. the opposite end40is shown pro- 7 vided with a conical neck 42 toenable the same to beseated withinthe detergent supply opening 18, as more clearly shownin'Fig. V.

As shown in FigfVI, theauxiliary door 36, in addition 'through which theclothes may be inserted and removed 7 from theinterior of theperforated'cylinder 46. During I the drying operation the hinged door 48covers theopen-I 7 .ing 44,.beingvheld closed by the latch 49.

I0 position the, auxiliary door 36, the regular door 16 air willcirculate through the door 16 in the machine 12,

through the agitated clothes and the perforated cylinder 46 to beexhausted through the detergent opening 18 by means of the duct 34.However, the advisability of shortening the drying cycle and in view ofthe fact that atmospheric conditions are not usually ideal for dryingpurposes, with the auxiliary 'door 36 and duct 30 installed as shown inFig. II, the products of combustion from the gas burner 68 are drawn;from the combustion chamber 37 through the duct connection 28 into theduct 30 and hence directed into the interior of the cylinder 46 throughthe duct connection 39. 7

'It will be readily appreciated that the air exhausting action of thefan will tend to collect'all lint from the clothes upon the screen 66.This arrangement is a distinct advantage over that shown in theaforesaid'patent wherein there is no provisionfor lint controlorcollection.

As it is necessary to supply a relatively'large amount of heat in orderto effectively dry the normal batch of clothes which may be handledat'one'time in a domestic washing.

cooled jacket 70 and the hot air inlet duct 30 is shownprovided with asuitable air cooled jacket 72 with the openings 73 and 75 providing acirculation of air through the jacket 72. To prevent operation of thedrying attachment in the event the ducts 30 and 34 are improperlypositioned, the duct 30 is provided with an actuator 74 (Fig. IV) which,with the duct 30 in proper position, will operate the electrical circuitcontrol member 76, while the duct 34 is provided with a correspondingactuator 78 (Fig. III) for operating the electrical circuit 35 a controlmember 80 with the duct 34 properly positioned.

To describe the safety controls for the gas heating embodiment: gas isbrought into the attachment '10 by the pipe 82 and delivered to thegas'bur-ner-68 and the pilot burner 84 through a safety shut-on valve 86and thermostatic valve '88. The valve 86 may be a combination manualshut-off and automatic shut-elf which will j 7 provide safe lighting ofthe pilot burner 84 and will cut ofi the gas supply in the event thepilot. flame fails and the thermocouple 90 which supplies the electricalenergy to theduct connection 39, is provided with an opening 44 5holding the valve 86 open-is no longer activated. trol member 92havingan actuator 94. Aligned holesj 96 and 98 permit the hot products ofcombustion from the chamber 37 to impinge against the member- 92 under"condition of improper draft through the inlet duct 30.

Mounted on the jacket 70 is a bi-metallic circuit con- Under normaldraft'conditiona'cool .airfiowing from a the ambient atmosphere asindicated by thearrows of "Figrlll protects the member 92; frombecoming'overi- 16 hinges are employed to support the auxiliary 'door 36to position through the hinge members 52 and 54.

m the illustrated form of Figs. 1 and III, the moisture laden-air isdirected out through the grille 56. from the exhaust 5 8 ofthe fan 60driven by the electricmotor 62.

'The intake of the fan 69 isbonnected withan opening 64 inthe lintfilter 22 which is provided with a' removable screen 66 of suitableconstruction for gathering the lint 'from the clothes'up'on its outersurface and to prevent 34 into the lint filter 22. Under certainatmosphericconditions, where the length of the drying cycle is not tooessential, following the washing cycle, with only the duct 34 connectedand the door 16 open .(installation of the auxiliary door 36 andthe'duct 3t) being'omitted'), ambient heated; Should the fan 60'fail tooperate, or the lint filter require cleaning 'or anyother part of theair circulating system function improperly, heat from the com- .bustionchamber'37 willcause the bi-metallic member. 7

92 to expand raising the actuator 94 to open a switch 100 in the controlcircuit 102 of the thermostatic mag netically operativemain burner valve88-t-o shut ofi the 7 gas supply to the burner. 68. V V To safeguardagainst'faulty operation'of the valve 88,

should the'ga's' supply continue to' flow to the burner 68 with thecircuit opened bythe switch 100, the actuator 94.is alsofemployedto openthe circuit 106 in which a the thermocouple 90 is located to de-energizethe valve 86 to shut oif the gas supply to both the burners68 and 84.In. this manner, double protection is provided al: though it doesrequire the relighting of the pilot burner after the fault in thecirculating system is corrected. It alsopreventsthe on and off cyclingof the gas burner 68' which might otherwise take place'if the member 92was controlling only'the valve 88; Q 1

In Fig. X the principles of the invention illustrated inthe form' ofFigs; Ito1VII1inclusive have been eni bodied to a dual purpose laundryunit for washing and drying comprising a cabinet 140 having the grille142 through which the motor 144 operating the exhaust fan 146 isdischarging moisture laden air during the time the unit is being used asa dryer. The intake of the fan 146 connects with the lint filter 148which is connected to the interior of the washing and drying cylinder bythe duct 150. The inlet duct 1S2 connects the combustion chamber 154with the interior of the cylinder located within the washing and dryingreceptacle 156 at a point directly above the main door opening158. Withthis arrangement it will be noted that the ducts 150 and 152 are locatedwithin the side walls of the cabinet 140. The operation of thecombination washing and drying unit shown in Fig. X corresponds to thatof the embodiment shown in Figs. I to VII inclusive.

In Fig. XI, another form ofrthe invention is diagrammaticallyillustrated wherein the drying attachment unit 160 is shown supportedupon a suitable carriage 162. The inlet duct 164 and the exhaust duct166 have terminal portions 168 and 170 which are constructed andarranged to be brought into register with the door opening 172 of thehorizontal cylinder type domestic washing machine cabinet 174. A rathercourse grille 176 is indicated at the discharge end of the duct 164whereas a relatively fine grille 173 capable of filtering the lint fromthe clothes is provided at the intake end 170 of the exhaust duct 166. Agasket 18%} or other suitable sealing means may be employed at the pointof abutment between the unit 160 and the cabinet 174. A suitable airexhausting means is indicated at 182. The drying of clothes and othermaterial within the cylinder 184 may be entirely carried out through thecirculation of air from the ambient atmosphere or a suitable source ofheat, as for example, a gas burner 186, may be provided in associationwith the air intake duct 164.

Referring to Fig. XII the dryer attachment 160 is shown angularlydisposed upon the carriage 162 in order to accommodate itself to thedomestic washing cabinet 174' diagrammatically illustrated as being ofthe inclined cylinder type of construction in which the opening intotheinterior of the cabinet 174' is through the inclined wall 188.

In lieu of the bi-metal control 92 for closing the gas valve 38 underabnormal pressure conditions in the combustion chamber 37, a diaphragmswitch actuator 368, of Fig. XIII, connected with the air inlet duct orcombustion chamber through a tube 370 may be employed to rock themercury switch 372 to break the circuit to the solenoid holding thevalve 88 open; the switch 372 being rocked about the pivot 374 by therod 376 connected to the diaphragm in any Well-known manner.

in order to readily adapt tr e drying attachment shown in Figs. 1 to VIIinclusive, to automatic washing ma chines now on the market or to permitits manufacture and sale as a companion unit without any modification ofthe cylinder or other types of agitator or without alterations in thetimer mechanism, the controls of the drying attachment should beindependent of the controls of the washing machine. To this end, thecontrols for the unit 15 of Fig. I are entirely independent of thecontrols for the washing machine 12. At the time of installation of theunit it is only necessary to electrically connect the control circuit ofthe drying unit to the agitator motor of the washing machine. If thecontrol circuit of the washing machine is such that such a connectionwould feed back through the timer mechanism to cause the washing cycleto be actuated, it will also become necessary to open the circuit to thetimer mechanism.

In the installation and operation of the drying unit 10 of Fig. I asmore completely disclosed in Fig. VII, the motor 114 for the cylinder ofthe washing machine is selectively connected to either the washingmachine circuit 116 or the drier circuit 112 through a suitable two poledouble throw switch 118. Thetimer mechanism 116 or the washing machineis diagrammatically shown controlling the water inlet valve mechanism119, the drain mechanism 120, and the spinning clutch mechanism 121, allin a manner well-known in the art and forming no part of the presentinvention. To avoid feed back through the timer mechanism 116, where thetimer motor is in series with the cylinder motor 114, at the time theswitch 118 is thrown into position of Fig. VII, the circuit 122 isopened as shown. The motor 114is now under thecontrol of the circuit 123in which the starting button 131 and regulating dial 124 are provided aspart of the control circuit which includes the thermostat 108 in thelint filter box 22.

The thermostat 108 and its associated controls are preferably of a typeand construction which will de-energize the circuit 102 to close themain burner valve 88 when the temperature in the filter box 22 rises toa predetermined level determined by the regulation of the dial 7 124 anddepending upon the degree of drying desired, as for example, 150 F. Withthe main burner valve 88 closed, the design of the thermostat 108 andits associated control is such that the circuit 123 in which thecylinder motor 114 and fan motor 62 are located will continue to operateto agitate the clothes while being aerated by unheated air until thetemperature in the lint filter box 22 drops to a predetermined lowertemperature, as for example, F. at which time the circuit 123 is openedto conclude the drying cycle.

To start the drying cycle, the button 126 is manually depressed topermit gas to flow through the valve 86 to the pilot burner 84. Theburner 84 is then lighted and the button 126 held depressed until thethenno couple is sufliciently activated to hold the valve 86 open atwhich time the button may be released. The dial 124 is then turned tothe desired drying adjustment and the starting button 131 actuated whichenergizes the circuit 162 to open the main burner valve 88 to the burner68 (provided the ducts 30 and 34 are properly positioned to close thecircuit at 76 and 31?).

The substitution of an electrical heater for the gas burner 68 is shownin Fig. IX in which the elements common to Fig. VII are indicated withcorresponding primed reference characters. To provide 220 volts for theresistance heater 127 the circuit is provided and controlled by therelay 129 under the joint control of the circuit 131) which may bedie-energized by the bi-metal control 92, the thermostat 108' or theimproper positioning of the ducts 30 and 34 leaving one or both of thecircuit closers 76' and 3G in open position.

It will be understood that the numerous embodiments shown are by way ofillustration only of the principles of the invention. Accordingly, I donot wish to be limited to the exact arrangements shown but to thecontrary wish to claim as my invention all embodiments of the inventioncoming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

l. in combination with a domestic clothes washer having a front dooropening through which the clothes are inserted and a top opening throughwhich the detergent is discharged into the interior of the clotheswashing machine, a portable self-contained dryer unit located to oneside of said washer, air heating and circulating means in said unit, anair duct connection in the front of said unit, a removable, generallyU-shaped, air inlet duct structure including a closure for said frontdoor opening, said air inlet duct structure being removably attachedbetween said air duct connection and said front door opening across thefront of said washer and unit, a second air duct connection located inthe top of said unit, a removable, general- 1y U-shaped air exhaust ductstructure having one termi nal end shaped to connect to said detergentopening and the other terminal end to connect to said second air ductconnection, a storage space defined in said unit below said first airduct connection and said heating and air circulating means to receivesaid removable air duct structureswhen notin use, and an adjustableclosure at the front of said unit for the'terminalfi of said first airduct connection and for one end of said storage space.

,2. A portable self-contained drying attachment for domestic washingmachines comprising air circulating means, means for heating the washedmaterial, duct structure for circulating air within the interior of theWashing machine, and terminal connections on said duct structure fortemporarily coupling said duct structure to the drying attachment andwith/the interior of the Washing machine through association with one ormore'openings into the interior of the washing machine.

3. In combination with a domestic clothes washer havtraction andaeration, a timer mechanism, timer coning an opening through which theclothes. are inserted and an opening 'th-rough'which the detergent isdischarged *into'the interior Otf the clothes washing machine, a .dry-

ing attachment having air circulating means, and duct structure'm'eansassociated with said air circulating means and coupled to said openingsfor circulating air between said clothes and detergent openings throughthe interior of the washing machine to aerate and dry the clothes.

4. In 'the combination of claim 1 wherein said closure 8 7 for saidfront door opening has defined therein an opening for the insertion ofclothes, adjustahle means for closing said last opening, and, aduct'connection in juxtaposition with reference thereto.

, 5. A portable self-contained drying attachment for clothes washingmachines comprising air heating means, air circulating means includingduct structure having removable terminal connections to be coupled tothe drying attachment and with openings defined in the washing machineand communicating with the interior of the washing machine whereby saidduet structure when con nected is'adapted to circulate air through theinterior of the washing machine, control means actuated by said ductstructure when properly'positiorned with respect to the.

openings in the machine and regulating means for said heating meanssubordinate to the actuation of said control means by the positioning ofsaid duot'structure.

,6. In air heating and circulating apparatus, duct structure, a sourceof heat, heat responsive means for controlling said heat source, aircirculating means associated with said structure for reducing theatmospheric pressure within said duct structure, an air inlet into saidduct structure g adjacent to which said heat responsive means is locatedto cool said heat responsive means with ambient air flowing through saidair inlet, and an opening defined in said ductadjacent said heatresponsive means to subjectv said 5 means to the heat of said source inthe absence of predeiy termined sub-atmospheric pressures in said ductstructure.

7; In a dryer apparatus, a receptacle, inlet and exhaust ducts'tructureconnecting the drying apparatus with the interior of said receptacle,means for circulating 'air through said ducts and the interior of saidreceptacle, 2.

air, heat responsive means for regulating said heating means, and meansindependent of said timer :and in'com- 7 source of heat, meanscontrolling said source, said last means including means responsive topredetermined conditions of air circulation in said ducts to reduce saidheat. upon reduction in circulation, and means responsive" topredetermined temperature COHdlliO'IlSiII said exhaust duct forregulatingsaid' air circulation and heat source e 8. An automaticclotheswashing and drying apparatus 'comprisinga common agitating memberin which the clothes are washed, rinsed and dried by mechanicalextrolled means for carrying out the washing, rinsing and the mechanicalwater extraction steps including driving means for said agitatingmember, means for circulating ambient air thru said agitating member,control means for said last means and'saiddriving means independent;

. of said timer mechanism, means for raising thetemperature Otf saidclothes while being iaerated, and heat responsive control means forregulatingsaid temperature 'raising means."

9. In a dryer apparatus, a gas burner, 'a pilot 7 burner, a gas supply,a main burner valve located between said main gas burner and saidsupply, an electrical circuit holding said main valve open, a pilotburner shut off valve between said main burner valve and said supply,a'thermo; couple circuit actuated by said pilot burner for holding saidpilot burner valve open whereby either one of said valves is capable ofshuttingoff the flow of gas from said supply to said main gas burner,and a heat responsive element including means for opening said circuitsto release both of said valves to automatic closing movement to assureinterruption of gas flow for said supply-to said main burner. 7 y

10. In combinationwith an 'automatic clothes'washer having anagitator'into which theclothes are placed for the normal automatic cycleofwashing rinsing and" mechanical extraction anda timer for controllingsaid;

cycle, of a dryer attachment for adding the step ofaera 7 ,tion withinsaid agitator comprising air ducts coupledto thedryer attachment and tothe interior of said agitator, means for circulating ambient air throughsaid ducts and the interior of said agitator, means for heating saidbination with said air circulating means'for actuating said agitator. V

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBarrett Oct. 6', 1931 Bradley Fea 1950

